| South African Class FD 2-6-2+2-6-2 | |
|---|---|
| Class FD 2323, later renumbered 674 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | North British Locomotive Company |
| Builder | North British Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 23294-23297[1][2] |
| Model | Class FD |
| Build date | 1925 |
| Total produced | 4 |
| Configuration | 2-6-2+2-6-2 "Double Prairie" Modified Fairlie |
| Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge |
| Leading wheel diameter |
28.5 in (724 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 46 in (1,170 mm) |
| Trailing wheel diameter |
28.5 in (724 mm) |
| Wheelbase | Total: 58 ft 7 in (17.856 m) Engines: 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m) coupled 18 ft 7.5 in (5.677 m) total |
| Length | 65 ft 7.75 in (20.009 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 9.25 in (3.893 m) |
| Frame | Plate frame, 36 ft 6 in (11.125 m) between pivot centres |
| Axle load | 12.35 long tons (12.5 t) on 1st driver |
| Weight on drivers | 72.85 long tons (74.0 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 114.1 long tons (115.9 t) w/o |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 5 long tons (5.1 t) |
| Water capacity | 2,500 imp gal (11,000 l) front 1,300 imp gal (5,900 l) rear |
| Boiler | 6 ft (1.829 m) int dia 10 ft 8 in (3.251 m) int length 7 ft 6.25 in (2.292 m) pitch |
| Boiler pressure | 180 psi (1,240 kPa) |
| Firegrate area | 41 sq ft (3.809 m2) |
| Heating surface: Tubes |
190 tubes 2 in (50.8 mm) ext dia 32 tubes 5.5 in (140 mm) ext dia 1,552 sq ft (144.186 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
178 sq ft (16.537 m2) |
| Heating surface: Total |
1,730 sq ft (160.722 m2) |
| Superheater area | 371 sq ft (34.467 m2) |
| Cylinders | Four |
| Cylinder size | 15 in (381 mm) bore 24 in (610 mm) stroke |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts[3] |
| Tractive effort | 31,690 lbf (141.0 kN) at 75% boiler pressure |
| Career | South African Railways |
| Class | Class FD |
| Number in class | 4 |
| Number | 2320-2323, renumbered 671-674 |
| Delivered | 1926 |
| First run | 1926 |
| Withdrawn | 1949 |
| Disposition | Retired |
In 1926 the South African Railways placed four Class FD Modified Fairlie articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service.[1][3]
Contents |
The Class FD Modified Fairlie locomotive was designed and built for the South African Railways (SAR) by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) in 1925. Four locomotives were delivered in 1926, numbered 2320 to 2323, but they were later renumbered 671 to 674.[1][3]
The Class FD was a larger and more powerful version of the experimental Class FC that was placed in service in 1924. It was the Modified Fairlie equivalent of the Class GD 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratt, which was similar in both size and mechanical respects, hence the Class FD designation of these Modified Fairlies. The Class FD locomotives had Walschaerts valve gear, plate frames and were superheated. They proved to be powerful locomotives and good steamers, but they were less successful than their Garratt equivalent.[1][3]
They suffered from the same shortcomings as their Class FC predecessor. The 65 feet (19.8 metres) long rigid frame resulted in severe overhang on sharp curves and was also prone to metal fatigue and cracking, brought about by the long frame overhangs at the front and back beyond the engine pivot centres. The overhangs, laden with the water and coal bunkers of which about two-thirds of each extended beyond the respective pivot centres, tended to vibrate in an up-and-down motion while the locomotive was in motion.[1][4]
In addition to this rather serious defect, the pivot bearings were also subject to quite rapid wear since they carried a considerable additional load compared to those on the Garratt, as a result of the water and coal bunkers that were mounted on the frame instead of on the engine units. This resulted in increased maintenance and, as a consequence, increased operating cost.[1][3][4]
The locomotives joined the sole Class FC in service on the Cape Midlands System, working on the Grahamstown branch. They were scrapped by 1949.[1][3]
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